Two Little Words ...
If you’re of the generation I am (I turned 50 this past spring) or older, it’s pretty much certain that you grew up being taught some basic etiquette. Now, I’m not saying that if you’re younger than I am you have no manners – I mean, I’m getting older, but I haven’t transformed completely in to a crotchety old fart.
But it’s amazing to me how often people are actually taken aback when I thank them for something. It’s odd to me. Why, after someone has done something for me, do they find it strange that I would thank them? To me, it’s a sign that maybe they don’t hear it enough from others. How often am I standing in line at a store, for instance, and see folks in line ahead of me interact with the person behind the counter in a perfunctory manner at best – and frankly just plain rude at worst.
I have bad days just like the rest of the world. But my bad day is no excuse to be rude or thoughtless to the person making me a coffee for Pete’s sake.
So, when someone provides me a service, sends me the file I needed, helps me out with a project, holds the door or is just plain helpful in some way, I use those two little words … Thank you.
I hope, in my own little way, that maybe I helped brighten that person’s day a little.
